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SIKORSKI Family History, Part I

Our Sikorski family begins with Frank Sikorski¹ and his wife Amelia "Emily" Skrocka¹ in Poland, variously referred to as Russian- or Austria-Hungarian-occupied Poland (references that vary over time as Poland suffered successive occupations). Russia occupied the cental and eastern portions of Poland and Austria-Hungary occupied the southern region of Poland known as Galicia. The remaining western and northern regions were occupied by Prussia and its succeeding German Empire.

Frank and Amelia's son Zenon F. Sikorski² and at least four other children emigrated to America in 1890 or 1891 and later married Aleksandra Sikorska², allegedly a relative of the same surname. After arrival in the early 1890s, the Sikorskis are first believed to have settled in northwestern Wisconsin at Ashland on the shore of Lake Superior before 1900. Not long after they continued northwest into Minnesota in the region of the Mesabi Iron Range, the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. By 1920 they returned to Wisconsin and resettled in Milwaukee.

Family heritage states that the famed General Władysław Sikorski, who distinguished himself in repelling a Russian invasion of Warsaw in 1920, formed the Polish government-in-exile in Paris, served as its premier, and died in a mysterious plane crash in 1943, was an uncle. This would indicate that either Zenon or Aleksandra was his sibling; however, claim to such a direct relationship is highly doubtful. Władysław is only known to have one brother and two sisters. Both Władysław's father and grandfather died before Frank Sikorski was born. His elder brother had at least two sons who emigrated to Brazil. Through the general's ancestors, the Sikorski family claims the coat of arms of Kopaszyna, a clan of 15 szlachta (noble) families that trace back to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795).

Polish Origins

So far we have not been able to pinpoint our origin in Poland to any area more specific than "Russian-occupied Poland" or "Austria-Hungary-occupied Poland." All but one reflection point to the Russian-controlled regions but the 1900 census records that John Sikorski and his sister Blanche (Sikorska) Kaminska were from "Austria-Hungary-occupied Poland." This leads me to focus on an area where Austrian-Hungarian rule may have changed hands to Russian during their lifetime. Furthermore, the family history that claimed familial ties to General Sikorski, who was born in Austria-Hungarian Galicia, further spurred interest in such a region. From that process a brief history of Polish territory is presented:

• The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth underwent three partitions in the late 18th Century between Russia in the east, Prussia in the west and north, and Austria in the south, gradually consolidating their respective claims into contiguous regions, and ultimately resulting in the dissolution of Poland in 1795
• Napoleon's "Duchy of Warsaw" (1809-1815) became the "Kingdom of Poland" (1815-1831), under Russian influence, which lost sovereignty after the 1831 uprising and became better known as "Congress Poland," (1831-1915); Congress Poland continued with some autonomy but Russian grip tightened further after the 1863 uprising and was finally lost when the Central Powers expelled Russia during World War I in 1915
• After the Austrian Empire's defeat to Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War (1866), the Austrian Empire was reformed as Austria-Hungary, which included Galicia. By 1873 the Polish in Galicia managed to gain de facto autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian regime.
• The "Great Economic Emigration" began during the 1880s, starting in western Poland and spreading eastward until checked by World War I in 1914; it is during this period that our Sikorskis emigrated.
• The 1900 census of the Sikorska-Kaminski family list their origin as "Poland^Aus," a reference that likely implies Galicia, as the Austria-Hungary partition was comprised of the southern third of Poland up to but not including Warsaw and included cities such as Kraków, Lublin, and Lwów (now part of the Ukraine).
• The 1905 state censuses and beyond all record their origin as "Russia" or "Russ. Polish"
• Following World War I, the Second Polish Republic was formed under the Treaty of Versailles (1918) and lasted until the German invasion of 1939. No sooner had the Second Republic started, Ukrainians in the eastern portion of Poland declared independence as the "Western Ukrainian People's Republic" and touched off the Polish-Ukrainian War (1918-1919). As Poland was able to repulse a Russian invasion of Warsaw in 1920 and Russia was able to drive back Polish expansion into Ukraine, the Russian-Polish borders changed repeatedly. The 1920 census records the Sikorskis as being from "Russia Poland"
• With the Polish borders relatively stable for several years, by the 1930 census, the Sikorskis simply noted "Poland" as their origin.

Other SIKORSKI Families of Minnesota & Wisconsin

Lines that may show promise are the Sikorskis of Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin. Although we still have not found any direct or suspected ties to these two families, both Zenon Sikorski and his sister Blanche (Sikorska) Kaminska were buried in Ashland in 1934 and 1940, respectively.

In researching early Sikorski families in Minnesota, the following families are found; however, these families generally refer to their homeland as the German- or Prussian-occupied Poland and likely are much more distant in relation:

• Two Harbors, northeast Minnesota on the shore of Lake Superior, northeast of Duluth:

• Anthony Sikorski (born November 1867), a single railroad conductor, immigrated in 1882, and residing in Two Harbors, Lake County, Minnesota, 1900

• Winona, southeastern border of Minnesota with Wisconsin:

• Herman Sikorsky (born about 1826) and wife Anna, immigrated about 1874, and residing on Second Street in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1880
• Teodor Sikorski (born December 1840) and wife Josephine (Rogalla), immigrated 1866, and residing at 357 Mankato Avenue in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1900-1918
• Mathew Sikorski (born February 1846) and wife Tekla (Malik), immigrated 1872/1874, and residing on East Third Street in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1900
• Louis Secorske (born about 1847) and wife Josephine, immigrated before 1873, and residing on Second Avenue in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1880
• Antoni Sikorski (born May 1856) and wife Mary/Maryanna, residing on Mankato Avenue in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1900
• John V. Sikorski (born March 1861) and wife Marianna Wera, immigrated 1884, and residing on Mankato Avenue in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1900
• Joseph Sikorski (born about 1869) and wife Mary, residing in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1930
• Maximilian Sikorski (born about 1870) and wife Augusta, immigrated in 1874, residing on Second Street in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1910
• Thomas Sikorski (born January 1871) and wife Klara, born in Minnesota, and residing on Wabasha Street in Winona, Winona County, Minnesota, 1900; possible son of Teodor and Josephine (Rogalla) Sikorski

Frank SIKORSKI¹

1. Frank Sikorski¹ and Amelia "Emily" Skrocka were both born in Poland. It is not known whether they immigrated to America or not, but they had at least five children who did, perhaps more:

11.	John Sikorski	Oct 1858	--	--
1x.	Wital Sikorski	(1865)	--	--
12.	Ed Sikorski	20 Oct 1867	5 Apr 1903	(37)
1x.	Joseph Sikorski/Secord	19 Mar 1869	7 Jul 1955	(86)
13.	Bronisława "Blanche" SikorskaΔ	21 Jul 1869	25 Jul 1940	(71)
1x.	Adam Sikorski	Nov 1869	--	--
1x.	Adam Sikorski	1871	--	--
14.	Benjamin Sikorski	4 Nov 1872	--	--
15.	Zenon F. Sikorski2	1 Nov 1873	16 Mar 1934	(60)
16.	Aleksandra Sikorska2	(1885)	10 Jan 1910	(24)

John SIKORSKI (1858-)

11. John Sikorski was born in October 1858, either in Austro-Hungarian-occupied^{[Cen 1900]} or Russian-occupied^{[Cen 1905,1910]} Poland. He immigrated to America in 1890^{[Cen 1900,1910]} and is first recorded in the 1900 census living as a boarder with Michael and Bronislawa (Sikorska) Kaminski, his sister's family, in Hibbing, Saint Louis County, Minnesota. At the time, John was working as an iron miner.^{[Cen 1900]}

John continued to live in Hibbing with the Kaminskis in 1905 and was joined sometime prior by brothers Ben and Zenon.^{[Cen 1905]}

About 1910, he moved in with Zenon and Ben, and Zenon's infant daughter "Bessie" (Blanche) at 226 Hickory Street in Virginia, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, where he was recorded as a brother. John was working as a laborer at the time.^{[Cen 1910]}

Wital SIKORSKI

1x. Wital Sikorski, a possible brother of Zenon Sikorski, was born in the early 1860s in Poland. He immigrated in 1885 and married Frances Paskewich, also a Polish immigrant who arrived in 1900. She was several years his senior and had at least four children, of whom only one survived to 1910.^{[Cen 1910]}

The Sikorskis resided at 1315 Front Street East in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, by 1910^{[Cen 1910]}, and then moved three blocks west to 1009 Front Street East by 1920^{[Cen 1920]}.

Frances (Paskewich) Sikorski fell ill with carcinoma of the uterus in 1922 and underwent surgery on February 4. She died nine months later at her residence at 1019 East Front Street in Ashland on November 25, 1922. She was 67 years old. Frances was buried at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland on November 27.^{[Dth 1922]}

Ed SIKORSKI (1867-1903)

12. Ed Sikorski was born on October 20, 1867, in Poland. He likely immigrated around 1890 with his siblings and settled near Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin.

Ed Sikorski died on April 5, 1903, at the age of 37, and was buried at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland.

Bronsława (SIKORSKA) KAMINSKA^Δ (1869-1940)

13. Bronisława "Blanche" Sikorska^Δ was born on July 21, 1869,* in Austro-Hungarian-occupied^{[Cen 1900]} or Russian-occupied Poland^{[Cen 1905,1910]}. She immigrated to America in between 1890 and 1892* and married Michael "Matt" Kaminski/Kominski, either right before their departure or soon after arrival from Poland. They had at least three children, two of whom died in childhood^{[Cen 1900]}:

13x.	Kaminski	(1894-1900)	(<1900)	(<6)
13x.	Mary Kaminska	5 Apr 1896	4 Nov 1905	(9)
133.	Rudolph William KominskiΔ	29 May 1902	4 Aug 1969	(67)

Michael and "Bronaslava" (sic) are first recorded in the 1900 census residing on Second Avenue in Hibbing, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, with their first daughter Mary and four Polish immigrant boarders who were working as iron miners. Among these boarders was John Sikorski, who immigrated in 1890 and is later identified as a brother^{[Cen 1910]}. All were noted as having been born in "Poland^Aus," a likely reference to Galicia, a Polish region under occupation by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.^{[Cen 1900]}

By 1905, Blanche's brothers Ben and Zenon joined the Kaminski family, along with brother John in Hibbing. Mike worked as a merchant.^{[Cen 1905]}

Later in that year, tragedy struck with the death of their 9-year old daughter, Mary, on November 4, 1905 in Ashland County, Wisconsin. She was buried at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland next to her likely uncle, Ed Sikorski.

Michael and Blanche were both naturalized in 1908^{[Cen 1920]} and thereafter were enumerated in Bovey Village, Itasca County, Minnesota, in the 1910 census, where Michael was noted as a proprietor of a saloon.^{[Cen 1910]}

By the 1920 census, the Kaminskis moved just up the road to 119 Wisconsin Avenue in Gilbert near Grand Rapids, where Michael worked at a school and Blanche's brother Zenon, a widower, was living with them as a boarder.^{[Cen 1920]}

Come the 1930 census they had removed to 641 Fifth Avenue in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, where Michael worked as a grinder in an iron factory and brother Zenon worked as a flagman on the railroad.^{[Cen 1930]}

Per niece Blanche Sikorski's reentry documentation to the United States from Poland in 1936, Blanche (noted as "Aunt Bronislawa Kaminska") lived at 1661 South 10 Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that year.

Bronislawa "Blanche" (Sikorska) Kaminski died four days after her birthday on July 25, 1940, in Milwaukee, having suffered from chronic myocarditis and heat prostration. She had been residing at 803 West Mitchell Street. Blanche was buried on July 27 at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, as was Mike and her brother Zenon. She was at least 71 years old.

Michael Kaminski died two months later on October 9, 1940. He was in his early 70s and is buried with his wife and daughter at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland.

Joseph SIKORSKI (SECORD) (1869-1955)

1x. Joseph Sikorski (Secord), a possible brother of Zenon Sikorski, was born on March 19, 1869, in Russian-occupied Poland, allegedly from Suwałki in the northeast province of Podlaskie. He immigrated to the United States in 1898 or 1899 and married Mary Sokołowska in the mid-1890s. They had at least 13 children, but four died before 1910:

1xA.	Josephine Ruby Sikorski	(1898)	3 Jan 1983	(84)
1xB.	Benjamin Sikorski/Secord	27 Aug 1900	4 Mar 1960	(59)
1xx.	John "Yosh" R. Sikorski/Secord	30 Aug 1902	20 Oct 1983	(81)
1xx.	Stanley Sikorski	(1904)	--	--
1xK.	Richard Anthony Sikorski	1906	1942	(36)
1xL.	Leo Sikorski	(1908)	--	--
1xM.	Lucy Sikorski	(1909)	--	--

The Sikorskis settled at 1310 St. Claire Street East in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin by 1910 and remained there up through Joseph's death in 1955.^{[Cen 1910,1920,Dth]} Three Sikorski men, two named Adam and one named Ben, lived at 1314 ten years prior, suggesting that they were close kin.

Joseph worked as a wood piler at a pulp mill^{[Cen 1910]} and a laborer at a railroad roundhouse^{[Cen 1930,Dth]}.

Mary (Sokołowska) Sikorski died in 1948 at the age of about 84 years and is buried at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland.

Joseph Sikorski died seven years later on July 7, 1955, at about the age of 86 years. Six months earlier he had entered the Lakeside Nursing Home in Washburn, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, across the Chequamegon Bay to the north. He suffered a cerebral thrombosis (blood clot in the brain) two days before his death. Joseph was buried at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland on July 11.

Adam SIKORSKI

1x. Two likely relatives, both named Adam Sikorski, were born respectively in November 1869 and 1871. The elder immigrated in 1890 and the younger in 1893, and both lived together as boarders with Frank Zak, a German saloonkeeper, the Zak family, and a likely brother Ben at 1314 Saint Claire Street in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay, in 1900. All three worked as general laborers and were pending naturalization.^{[Cen 1900]}

Benjamin SIKORSKI (1872-)

14. Benjamin "Ben" Sikorski was born in Poland on November 4, 1872,^[WWI] and immigrated to the United States in 1890 or 1891. He is first found at 1314 Saint Claire Street in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, in 1900, along the shore of Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay. There he lived as a boarder with Frank Zak, a German saloonkeeper, the Zak family, and two of Ben's likely relatives, both named Adam Sikorski, ages 30 and 29.^{[Cen 1900]}

By 1905, Ben moved into Minnesota with his sister Blanche Kaminski, her family, and brothers John and Zenon at Hibbing, Saint Louis County. He was noted working as a laborer.^[1905]

About 1910, Ben moved in with his younger brother Zenon, Zenon's infant daughter, and elder brother John at 226 Hickory Street in Virginia, Saint Louis County, Minnesota. At the time he worked as a bartender with brother Zenon at a saloon on 118 Chestnut Street.^{[Cen 1910, Dir 1910]}

By 1915, Ben's brother Zenon moved to Superior, Wisconsin, and Ben had resettled at 222 Oak Street in Virginia (now believed to be 3rd Street North, pictured right). Ben worked as a miner.^{[Dir 1915]}

At the time World War I broke out, Ben worked at an ore mine in nearby Gilbert, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, according to his draft registration, and listed brother "Zeno Sikorski" of Gilbert as his nearest relative.^[WWI]

Zenon F. SIKORSKI² (1873-1934)

15. Zenon F. Sikorski² was born in Russian-occupied Poland on November 1, 1873. He married Aleksandra Sikorska² about 1907. She died six months after giving birth to their only daughter:

151.

Blanche M. Sikorski3

25 Jun 1909

25 Dec 1980

(71)

Per an interview with Zenon's son-in-law Casimer, Zenon grew up in Warsaw.

Census records show that he immigrated to the United States between 1888 and 1891 and was naturalized in 1906^{[Cen 1920]}. He is first found in 1905 living with his sister Blanche Kaminski, her family, and brothers John and Ben in Hibbing, Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Zenon worked as a saloon keeper.^{[Cen 1905]}.

After Zenon and Aleksandra wed about 1907, they lived at 226 Hickory Street in Virginia, St. Louis County, Minnesota (now believed to be 8th Street South, pictured right), at the time of their daughter's birth in 1909. He is listed on Blanche's birth certificate as being a saloon keeper.

Aleksandra died of typhoid fever in the new year on January 10, 1910, just six months after giving birth to their first and only child. Left as a widower with an infant daughter, family tradition says that Zenon left his daughter with either two maiden sisters or sisters-in-law.

Following Aleksandra's death, Zenon's elder brothers John and Ben moved in with him and his infant daughter at 226 Hickory Street. Zenon continued to work at a saloon at 118 Chestnut Avenue, as did his brother Ben.^{[Cen 1910, Dir 1910]}

By 1915, Zenon moved to Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin, across the bay from Duluth.^{[Dir 1915]}

By 1920, Zenon was living nearby at 119 Wisconsin Avenue, Gilbert in St. Louis County, as a widower boarder with sister and brother-in-law Blanche and Mike Kaminski. Zenon was recorded as a flagman for the railroad.

Later, in 1930, Zenon appears again on the census with Mike and Blanche Kaminski, this time at 641 Fifth Avenue in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, and listed as a "brother-in-law".

Zenon F. Sikorski died of cancer of the larynx at 3:15 AM on March 16, 1934, at his home at 1661 South 10th Street in Milwaukee. He was 60 years old. He was reunited with his wife at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, on March 18. He is listed on his death certificate as a laborer for the C. & N.W. (Chicago & Northwestern/C&NW) Railway Company.^{[Dth 1934]}

Zenon's son-in-law Casimer says that Zenon owned a meat packing plant, presumably in Chicago.

Aleksandra SIKORSKA² (~1885-1910)

16. Aleksandra (Alexandra) ("Alice") Sikorska² was born in Poland in about 1885. It is not known when she immigrated to America. She wed Zenon Sikorski² (15), a likely family relation, about 1907 and started a family in Virginia, St. Louis County, Minnesota. They had one daughter before her untimely death:

151/161.

Blanche M. Sikorski3

25 Jun 1909

25 Dec 1980

(71)

Sadly, Aleksandra fell ill with typhoid fever in December of 1909 and died two weeks later at 10:00 AM on January 10, 1910, just six months after giving birth to their daughter. The family had been living at 226 Hickory Street in Virginia at the time.

Aleksandra was buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Virginia, in a ceremony presided over by Rev. M. Sengir and four months later moved and reburied at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin, on April 8. She and her husband share a headstone.

After Aleksandra's death, Zenon moved in with his sister Blanche. Their daughter Blanche was said to have been raised by two maiden aunts.